Henhouse door



July 30, G ARNOLD HENHOUSE DOOR Filed Aug. 2, 1926 Patented July 30,1929.

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GEORGE I. ARNOLD, F LONACONING, MARYLAND.

HENHOUSE DOOR.

Application filed August 2, 1926. Serial No. 126,695.

This invention relates to an improvement in hen house doors.

The object of the invention is to allow the chickens to automaticallyrelease the hen house door in the morning, while at the same time toinsure that the door is closed from the outside during the night, forpreventing the entrance of animals such as prey upon the fowls.

This invention obviates the undesirable necessity usually felt ofrequirin g that a person open the hen house door in the morning for therelease of chickens from such hen house, and permits of self release bythe chickens.

With these objects in view, the invention is constructed of a door framehaving a window or light opening in the top thereof, and below which isa gravity actuated door, pivoted at the bottom to drop down to releasethe chickens. In order to hold the door in its closed position, it isprovided with a catch engaged by a hook carried by a pivoted platformwhich is mounted below the window or light opening so that when thechickens fly towards such window they will move the platform to releasethe door and it will drop to its open position by gravity.

Suitable means is provided for limiting the movement of the platform inorder that it will not drop down sufliciently far to close the door-way.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the device;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the door, detached; and

Fig. 4c is a perspective view of the platform and associated mechanism.

The numeral 1 indicates the frame work of a hen house or similar chickenconfining en closure having a metal frame work 2 secured thereto, whichis provided with a flange 3 around the edges thereof, as clearly shownin Fig. 1. This frame 2 has the upper end thereof closed by a glasscovered window 4- interposed between the upper flange 3 and a cross bar5.

Hinged as at 6 to the lower flange 3 at the rear edge therof is a door 7which extends upwardly to fill a door-way 8 formed in the metal frame 2,the upper end of the door 7 engaging the cross strip and having itsrearward movement limited thereby. The 'door 7 slants, as shown in 1, sothat it will drop down into the dotted line position, as shown in th1sfigure, by gravity, when released. Secured to the back face of. the door7 near the upper edge thereof is a catch 9, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,in position to be engaged by a hook 10 formed by turning down the end ofa platform or tre'ddle 11 pivotally mounted on the bar 12 which has theopposite ends thereof received in bearing p1ates13 extending outwardlyfrom the side flanges 3. Lugs 1 1 are bent inwardly from one of theplates 13 in position to engage an arm 15 fixed on the pivot bar 12 forlimiting the upward and downward movement of the platform or treddle 11.A weight 16 is mounted on the front end of the platform or tre'ddle 11in order to counterbalance said platform and to normally hold it in itsdownward position to engage the catch 9.

In order to close the door 7' from the outside, whenever it is desiredto keep such door closed so that it may not be opened from the inside,a. suitable latch 17 is pivotally connected with the strip 5 in positionto he turned down over the upper edgeof the door.

In use, when the chickens are in the hen house for the night, the dooris closed by being raised from the dotted line posit-ion of Fig. 1 tothe full line position of said figure, and the catch 9 is engaged by thehook 10 of the platform so that the door is in its set and closedposition, preventing its being opened by animals or unauthorized personsfrom the outside.

In the morning when the chickens desire to be released they will fly orjump toward the glass window 4 and either rest upon or engage theplatform or treddle 11, moving the rear end of the same downward anddisengaging the hook 10 from the catch 9, thus allowing the door 7 to beopened by gravity. This leaves the doorway 8 entirely unobstructed andthe chickens may then pass from the hen house at will. The weight 16will normally hold the front end of the platform 11 down in the dottedline position indicated in Fig. 1, but this downward movement is limitedby the lower lug 14, the upper lug 14; also limiting the upward movementof this platform.

It may thus be seen that a door has been provided for a hen house orchicken enclosure which may be automatically opened by the chickenswithout necessitating the release of them by a person and, yet,preventing the unauthorized opening of the door by animals orunauthorized persons.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described including a frame having inturnedflanges therearound, a window in the upper portion of the frame, a crossbar at the lower edge of the window, an inclined gravity controlled doorhinged at its lower edge to the outer edge of one of the flanges, andnormally extending into engagement with the cross bar, a catch carriedby said door, a hook in position to engagethe catch to normally hold thedoor closed, a platform for actuating said hook, a bar for pivotallysupporting the platform, and bearing plates extending outwardly from theflanges for supporting the opposite ends of said bar, said platformbeing arranged adjacent the upper end of the door and the lower end ofthe window.

2. A device of the character described including a frame having inturnedflanges therearound, a window in the upper portion of the frame, a crossbar at the lower edge of the window, an inclined gravity controlled doorhinged at its lower edge to the outer edge of one of the flanges, andnormally extending into engagement with the cross bar, a catch carriedby said door, a hook in position to engage the catch to normally holdthe door closed, a platform for actuating said hook, a bar for pivotallysupporting the platform, bearing plates extending outwardly from theflanges for supporting the opposite ends of said bar, said platformbeing arranged adj acent the upper end of the door and the lower end ofthe window, an arm fixed to said bar, lugs extending inwardly from oneof the bearing plates in position to be engaged by said arm for limitingthe pivotal movement of said platform, and a counterbalance carried bythe front end of the platform adjacent the hook.

3. A device of the character described, including a frame, a door hingedtherein, a catch carried by said door, bearing plates extendingoutwardly from the frame, a bar sup ported in said bearing plates, apivotally mounted treddle supported on said bar and terminating in ahook for engaging the catch on the door, and means for limiting thepivotal movement of the, treddle. 4-. A device of the characterdescribed including a frame having inturned flanges therearound, awindow in the upper portion of the frame, a cross-bar at the lower edgeof the window, an inclined door hinged at its lower edge to the inneredge of one of the flanges and normally extending into engagement withthe cross-bar, and means for holding said door in its normal position. 7

5. A device of the character described including a frame having bearingplates connected therewith, a door mounted on the frame, a treddle forreleasing the door, a bar mounted between the bearing plates andpivotally supporting the treddle, an arm carried by said bar, and meanscarried by at least one of the bearing plates for co-operating with saidarm to limit the pivotal movement of the treddle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si nature.

GEORGE I. AR bLD.

